(a) In the event of a complaint concerning the activity of a person licensed or certified that presents a clear and immediate danger to the health, safety, or welfare of students, the Secretary may temporarily suspend the person’s license or certificate, pending a hearing. An order temporarily suspending a license or certificate under this section may not be issued unless the person or the person’s attorney received at least 72 hours’ written or oral notice before the temporary suspension so that the person or the person’s attorney can file a written response to the proposed suspension. The decision as to whether to issue the temporary order of suspension will be decided on the written submissions. An order of temporary suspension pending a hearing may remain in effect for no longer than 60 days from the date of the issuance of the order unless the temporarily suspended person requests a continuance of the hearing date. If the temporarily suspended person requests a continuance, the order of temporary suspension remains in effect until the hearing convenes and a decision is rendered.

(b) A person whose license or certificate has been temporarily suspended pursuant to this section must be notified of the temporary suspension immediately and in writing. Notification consists of a description of the complaint and the order of temporary suspension pending a hearing personally served upon the person or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the person’s last known address.

(c) A person whose license or certificate has been temporarily suspended pursuant to this section may request an expedited hearing. The Professional Standards Board shall schedule the hearing on an expedited basis, provided that the Board receives the request within 10 calendar days from the date on which the person received notification of the decision to temporarily suspend the person’s license or certificate.

(d) As soon as possible after the issuance of an order temporarily suspending a person’s license or certificate pending a hearing, the Board shall appoint a hearing examiner. After notice to the person pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the hearing examiner shall convene within 60 days of the date of the issuance of the order of temporary suspension to consider the evidence regarding the matters alleged in the complaint. If the person requests in a timely manner an expedited hearing, the hearing examiner shall convene within 15 days of the receipt of the request by the Board. The hearing examiner shall render a decision within 20 days of the hearing.

(e) In addition to making findings of fact, the hearing examiner shall also determine whether the facts found constitute a clear and immediate danger to the health, safety, or welfare of students. If the hearing examiner determines that the facts found constitute a clear and immediate danger to the health, safety, or welfare of students, the order of temporary suspension must remain in effect until the Board deliberates and reaches conclusions of law based upon the findings of fact made by the hearing examiner. An order of temporary suspension may not remain in effect for longer than 60 days from the date of the decision rendered by the hearing examiner unless the suspended person requests an extension of the order pending a final decision of the Board. Upon the final decision of the Board, an order of temporary suspension is vacated as a matter of law and is replaced by the disciplinary action, if any, ordered by the Board.

81 Del. Laws, c. 317, § 1;